Publication - FOI/EIR release

International trips and correspondence relating to specific celebrities: FOI release

Published: 17 July 2024
Directorate: Culture and Major Events Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector
FOI reference: FOI/202300381800
Date received: 23 October 2023
Date responded: 20 November 2023

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

Information requested

1. All correspondence, including internal correspondence, mentioning Brian Cox, and between Brian Cox and the Scottish Government between January 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

2. All briefing notes, minutes and notes prepared for and after Angus Robertson's British Irish Council meetings this year, including a full list of these meetings.

3. All briefing notes, minutes and notes prepared for and after Maree Todd's trip to France in September, including her itinerary and the full cost of the trip.

4. All correspondence, including internal correspondence, mentioning Kelly Given and correspondence between Kelly Given and the Scottish Government between January 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

5. All correspondence, including internal correspondence, mentioning Irvine Welsh and correspondence between Irvine Welsh and the Scottish Government between January 1 2023 and the date of this FOI.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested for reasons I have set out in detail below.

Request 1

Some of the information you have requested is available from:

EIFF @ Edinburgh International Festival Reveals 2023 Programme | Edinburgh International Festival
EIFF2023-Brochure-Digital-Spread-New.pdf (eif-c3.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com)
Brian Cox as honorary patron for King's campaign - Capital Theatres
Watch our new fly-through of the King's - Capital Theatres
Save the King's - Capital Theatres

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to a small amount of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names, professions and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Screen Scotland, who are the public body tasked, as part of Creative Scotland, with driving the development of Scotland’s screen sector. Disclosing this information would be likely to give Screen Scotland’s international competitors an advantage in future tendering exercises and similar, by revealing Screen Scotland’s intentions and priorities in relation to plans to attract inward investment. This would substantially prejudice Screen Scotland’s ability to attract inward investment and so could significantly harm their commercial business. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interestin protecting the commercial interests of companies which enter into Scottish Government contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

Request 2

The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because Angus Robertson did not attend any BIC meetings in 2023. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

Request 3

An exemption under section 27(1) of FOISA applies to the information you have requested since ministerial engagements, travel and gifts received are proactively published in line with the Scottish Ministerial Code. The information you have requested will be available at: www.gov.scot/collections/ministerial-engagements-travel-and-gifts/. This exemption allows public authorities to refuse to disclose information if they already plan to publish it within the next 12 weeks. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

An exemption under section 30(b)(i) of FOISA (free and frank provision of advice) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit substantially the free and frank provision of advice. The exemption recognises the need for officials to have a private space within which to advise Ministers. Disclosing the content of free and frank advice will substantially inhibit the space within which officials are able to provide free and frank advice to Ministers in future. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.

An exemption under section 32(1)(a)(i) of FOISA (international relations) applies to some of the information requested because disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially relations between the United Kingdom and the governments of other states. The effective conduct of international relations depends upon maintaining trust and confidence between the UK Government and other states. In this case, disclosing certain information about international relations with other states would substantially prejudice relations between the UK and those states because there is a need to maintain confidential dialogue in order to ensure that future engagement can take place in a spirit of trust and openness. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in ensuring that the UK Government is able to maintain good relations with other states, in order to protect and promote UK interests. There can be no public interest in jeopardising those relations by the Scottish Government disclosing this information.

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to some of the information requested. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of the companies with whom we engage to promote Scottish business interests in the European market. Disclosing this information would be likely to give reveal these companies’ priorities and intentions and thereby could give their competitors an advantage. This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies with which we engage in promoting trade and investment in and with overseas markets.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names, professions and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

Request 4

Some of the information you have requested is available from: Tartan week costs and expenses 2023: FOI release - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Request 5

Some of the information you have requested is available from:

Inward investment film & High-End TV production spend in Scotland doubles | Screen Scotland
EIFF @ Edinburgh International Festival Reveals 2023 Programme | Edinburgh International Festival
EIFF2023-Brochure-Digital-Spread-New.pdf (eif-c3.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com)
Edinburgh International Book Festival celebrates The Joy of Words and its 40th anniversary | Creative Scotland

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the
website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

The following annexes have been attached separately:
Annex A outlines our response to request (1), subject to the exceptions under sections 25(1), 38(1)(b) and 33(1)(b) as noted above.
Annex B outlines our response to request (3), subject to the exceptions under sections 30(b)(i), 32(1)(a) (i), 33(1)(b) and 38(1)(b) as noted above.
Annex C outlines our response to request (4), subject to the exceptions under sections 25(1) and 38(1) (b) as noted above.
Annex D outlines our response to request (5), subject to the exceptions under sections 25(1) and 38(1) (b) as noted above.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.